Current situation of the Zagorje turkey in Croatia megtekintése

(1)

&XUUHQWVLWXDWLRQRIWKH=DJRUMHWXUNH\LQ&URDWLD 6

0XåLF=

-DQMHþLü0

'LNLü.

6LQNRYLü

1Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, 10000 Svetošimunska 25, Croatia

2&URDWLDQ/LYHVWRFN6HOHFWLRQ&HQWUH=DJUHE.DþLüHYD,,,&URDWLD

$%675$&7

7KH =DJRUMH WXUNH\ KDV EHHQ UHDUHG IRU PRUH WKDQ IRXU FHQWXULHV LQ &URDWLD LQ WKH UHJLRQ RI +UYDWVNR =DJRUMH WKH PDMRU SDUW RI ZKLFK WRGD\ EHORQJV WR WKH SUHVHQW .UDSLQD=DJRUMHDQG9DUDåGLQFRXQWLHV7KHFXUUHQWSRSXODWLRQRIWKHEUHHGLQJIORFNLV HVWLPDWHGDWELUGV7KHUHVHDUFKZDVFDUULHGRQIDPLO\IDUPVLQWKHUHJLRQRI +UYDWVNR =DJRUMH ZKLFK UHDU WXUNH\V RI WKH =DJRUMH WXUNH\ W\SH $ WRWDO RI ELUGV ZHUH ZHLJKHG DQG WKH DYHUDJH ZHLJKW RI FRFNV DQG KHQV ZDV NJ DQG NJ UHVSHFWLYHO\$FFRUGLQJWRWKHIDUPHUV¶UHSRUWVWKHDYHUDJHDQQXDOOD\LQJUDWHZDV HJJVRIZKLFKDGXOWELUGVDUHUHDUHG$VUHJDUGVIHDWKHUFRORXUWKH=DJRUMHWXUNH\

PD\EHVXEGLYLGHGLQWRILYHYDULHWLHVRIZKLFKWKHEURQ]HYDULHW\LVWKHPRVWQXPHURXV 7KHERG\PHDVXUHPHQWVRIWKHSUHVHQW=DJRUMHWXUNH\VVXFKDVWKHERG\OHQJWK ERG\ZLGWKDQGWKHEUHDVWERQHOHQJWKDQGEUHDVWGHSWKDUHQRWVLJQLILFDQWO\GLIIHUHQW IURPWKRVHHVWDEOLVKHGLQ

(Keywords: turkey, body measurements, Croatia)

=86$00(1)$6681*

*HJHQZlUWLJH6LWXDWLRQGHU=DJRULDQHU7UXWKKQHULQ.URDWLHQ S. ¹0XåLF=¹-DQMHþLü0¹ LNLü.²6LQNRYLü

1Fakultät für Landwirtschaft, Universität Zagreb, Zagreb, 10000 Svetošimunska 25. Kroatien

2.URDWLVFKHV7LHU]XFKW]HQWUXPIU6HOHNWLRQ=DJUHE.DþLüHYD,,,.URDWLHQ

'LH =DJRULDQHU 7UXWKKQHU ZHUGHQ EHUHLWV VHLW PHKU DOV -DKUKXQGHUWHQ LP NURDWLVFKHQ=DJRUMHJH]FKWHWZDVKHXWH]XPJU|WHQ7HLOLQGHQ.RPLWDWHQ.UDSLQD

=DJRUMHXQG9DUDåGLQOLHJW'LH=DKOGHU=XFKWWLHUSRSXODWLRQEHWUlJWJHJHQZlUWLJ 7LHUH 'LH 8QWHUVXFKXQJHQ HUVWUHFNWHQ VLFK DXI )DPLOLHQIDUPHQ LQ =DJRUMH GLH GLHVHQ7UXWKKQHUW\SDXI]LHKHQ,QVJHVDPWZXUGHQ7LHUHJHZRJHQXQGIHVWJHVWHOOW GDVVGDV'XUFKVFKQLWWVJHZLFKWGHUPlQQOLFKHQ7LHUHNJGDVGHU7UXWKHQQHQNJ EHWUlJW'LHGXUFKVFKQLWWOLFKH/HJHOHLVWXQJGHU7UXWKHQQHQOLHJWEHLMlKUOLFK6WFN ZRYRQ 7LHUH DXIJH]RJHQ ZHUGHQ $XIJUXQG GHU )DUEH GHV *HILHGHUV ZHUGHQ 9DULDQWHQ XQWHUVFKLHGHQ DEHU ]X GRPLQLHUW GDV EURQ]HIDUELJH *HILHGHU 'LH .|USHUPDH GHU =DJRULDQHU 7UXWKKQHU GK 5XPSIOlQJH XQG EUHLWH GLH

%UXVWEHLQOlQJHVRZLHGLH%UXVWWLHIHZHLFKHQQXUXQEHGHXWHQGYRQGHQ:HUWHQDEGLH IHVWJHVWHOOWZXUGHQ

(Schlüsselwörter: Truthühner, Körpermaße, Kroatien)

Pannon University of Agriculture, Faculty of Animal Science, Kaposvár

(2)

,1752'8&7,21

Turkeys arrived in Europe soon after the discovery of America and spread very fast throughout Europe, at an annual rate of 40-50 km (&UDZIRUG, 1992).

In Croatia, to be precise in Hrvatsko Zagorje, the first records on turkeys date back as far as 1561 (quotation from: .RGLQHW], 1940) and ever since turkeys have been reared in this geographically small but culturally and historically precisely defined region.

During the said four-century period, the influence of turkeys from other regions was very small. This conclusion is based on the oral tradition and non-existence of written documents on turkey trading in the otherwise well documented, ecclesiastical and secular history of Hrvatsko Zagorje. The only known influence of other breeds (turkey populations) on the breeding of the Zagorje turkey might be through sixty birds imported from France in the second half of the 19^th century (.RGLQHW], 1940). All this is an indication of a long and isolated turkey rearing tradition in the region of Hrvatsko Zagorje, which has resulted in specific features by which this kind of poultry may be characterised as a breed called the Zagorje turkey.

In Europe the Zagorje turkey became known in the thirties of the 20^th century when it was exported to many European countries and the annual exports amounted to 40,000- 50,000 birds. This activity ceased at the beginning of the World War Two, when the Zagorje turkey fell into oblivion, in the economic, rearing and scientific sense.

The first and the only research results on the Zagorje turkey were collected and published by .RGLQHW] in 1940. Within the period between 1936 and 1937 .RGLQHW]

investigated the situation of the Zagorje turkey population in the region which is today LQFOXGHGE\LWVPDMRUSDUWLQWKH.UDSLQD=DJRUMHDQG9DUDåGLQ&RXQWLHV7KHDXWKRU estimated that the population of the breeding flock in that region was about 28,000 birds at that time.

Among other examinations, .RGLQHW] (1940) took the weights and measures of a sample of some hundred birds during their growth within the age between 0 and 28 weeks. The main conclusion drawn from this research was that in the Zagorje turkey skeleton growth is completed, i.e. maturity is reached at the age of 26-28 weeks when the body measurements are taken for the purpose of the exact external assessment, and the body weight in week 28 was 6.01 kg for cocks and 3.95 kg for hens. -DDS HW DO. (1939) (quotation from 1L[H\ and *UH\, 1989) came to a similar conclusion and reported that skeleton growth in the turkey ended after 22 weeks in hens and 24-26 weeks in cocks. .RGLQHW] also mentions 8 turkey varieties as regards feather colour, with bronze and grey colours prevailing.

In the course of 1996 a project for the preservation, protection and expansion of the Zagorje turkey was initiated in Croatia, which included research of the current situation of the Zagorje turkey population in its century-old habitat. The aim of our work is to establish the present number and body measurements of the Zagorje turkey breed in Croatia.

0$7(5,$/6$1'0(7+2'6

,QHDUO\VSULQJDVXUYH\RIWKH=DJRUMHWXUNH\RI.UDSLQD=DJRUMHDQG9DUDåGLQ counties was performed, which included visits to turkey rearing family farms, the measurements involving only birds which, by their phenotypic appearance,

(3)

corresponded to the description provided by Kodinetz in 1940 and which were selected for reproduction in the following year. The following indicators were taken into account:

− number of birds selected for reproduction per farm

− body weight

− body length

− body width

− breast bone length

− breast depth

− feather colour subdivided in five basic varieties

− number of reared young turkeys per hen, as reported by farmers

− estimate of the total number of Zagorje turkeys based on the data collected at the farms surveyed.

Body weights and measurements were taken in accordance with the procedure described by Kodinetz in 1940. The age of the birds examined ranged between 9 and 11 months, which, according to the data from the literature (.RGLQHW] 1940) coincides with the time when skeleton growth has been completed.

5(68/76$1'',6&866,21

During the Hrvatsko Zagorje survey a total of 147 turkey rearing family farms were visited. This is about one half of the turkey rearing farms in the region, but we estimate with high probability that the number and ratio of the types of birds on these farms are equal to the farms covered by this research.

The 7DEOH shows that the population of the breeding turkeys in Hrvatsko Zagorje is very limited and amounts to as few as 1500 birds. The sex ratio of the birds examined was 1 : 3.73 and an average of 4.79 birds per farm were selected for reproduction. As regards feather colour, i.e. varieties of the Zagorje turkey, the prevailing colours are bronze (50%), grey (18%) and bright (22%).

The comparison between the current number of the Zagorje turkey population and that established in 1937 (.RGLQHW], 1940) revealed a drastic reduction, by almost 18 times, and this was the main reason for the initiation of the action aimed at saving this interesting and valuable poultry species.

As regards the body weight of the Zagorje turkeys surveyed we have to express certain reserve in respect of the results shown in 7DEOH . That is to say, the current population of the Zagorje turkey is being reared in small flocks and under so-termed

‘free conditions’, i.e. the birds spend some time on meadows, pasture grounds, in orchards and in tufts, with quite varied nutritional regimes, and all these elements affected the body weight and resulted in relatively high variation coefficients. Yet, if we compare the current body weight of Zagorje turkeys with that reported by .RGLQHW] in 1940, we can see that the figures are very much alike, but we must point out that Kodinetz’s results refer to younger and, therefore, lighter, birds.

The annual laying rate of the turkey hens examined was 20.6 eggs, which is a relatively high rate in view of the total population, but considering the high variability of the results (var. coeff. = 46.72%) and the fact that they were based only upon the breeders’ reports, it is not possible to draw a more specific conclusion. The same is true as regards the number of turkey chickens reared per hen, but still, we can see that the hatching and rearing loss is small and amounts to approx. 20%.

(4)

7DEOH

1XPEHURI=DJRUMHWXUNH\VLQWKHFRXQWLHVRI.UDSLQD=DJRUMHDQG9DUDåGLQ

&RXQW\

.UDSLQD=DJRUMH 9DUDåGLQ 7RWDO 6H

[ 9DULHW\

([DPL

QHG(VWLPD

WHG 9DULHW\ ([DPL

QHG (VWLPD

WHG 9DULHW\ ([DPLQHG (VWLPD WHG

black(6) 8 16 black 5 10 black 13 26

bronze(7) 51 102 bronze 30 60 bronze 81 162

grey(8) 18 36 grey 10 20 grey 28 56

bright(9) 25 50 bright 9 18 bright 34 68

yellow(10) 2 4 yellow 1 2 yellow 3 6

7RWDO 7RWDO 7RWDO

black 31 62 black 16 32 black 47 94

bronze 186 372 bronze 116 232 bronze 302 604

grey 66 132 grey 41 82 grey 107 214

bright 92 184 bright 39 78 bright 131 262

yellow 4 8 yellow 3 6 yellow 7 14

7RWDO 7RWDO 7RWDO

*UDQGWRWDO

* Number of birds covered by the research (9HUVXFKVWLHUEHVWDQG

# Estimated number of birds at approx. 50% family farms not covered by this research 9RQ GHU JHVFKlW]WH *HVDPW]DKO GHU 7UXWKKQHU ZXUGHQ QXU LQ GHQ 9HUVXFK HLQEH]RJHQ

7DEHOOH%HVWDQGDQ=DJRULDQHU7UXWKKQHUQLQGHQ.RPLWDWHQ.UDSLQH=DJRUMHXQG 9DUDåGLQ

*HVFKOHFKW .RPLWDW )DUEH $Q]DKO GHU 9HUVXFKVWLHUH *HVFKlW]WH

%HVWDQGV]DKO 6FKZDU] %URQ]HIDUELJ *UDX +HOOJOlQ]HQG *HOE

*HVDPW,QVJHVDPW

7DEOH shows average body measurements for the Zagorje turkeys examined at an average age of 10.5 months, which means that skeleton growth was completed and that the results may be compared with those of .RGLQHW] from 1940. At that time the birds presented the body measurements shown in 7DEOH.

The comparison of the Zagorje turkey measurements from 1937 and 1999 shows that the body lengths are quite similar and that the present-day hens feature a somewhat narrower body. The breast bone length of the current population is some 1.5 cm longer and the breast depth of the 1999 hens is, on average, 0.7 cm larger.

(5)

7DEOH

:HLJKWRIDGXOWELUGVDQQXDOOD\LQJUDWHDQGQXPEHURI\RXQJWXUNH\VSHUKHQ Sex

(1)

Statistical indicator (2)

Body weight in kg (3)

Annual laying rate No. of eggs(4)

Young turkeys per hen/year(5)

n 159 - -

x 6.87 - -

S 1.27 - -

V 18.48 - -

N 594 159 159

x 3.97 20.68 16.69

s 0.63 0.54 8.66

V 19.90 46.72 51.89

7DEHOOH*HZLFKWGHUDXIJH]RJHQHQ7UXWKKQHUMlKUOLFKH/HJHOHLVWXQJDXIJH]RJHQH .NHQSUR7UXWKHQQH

*HVFKOHFKW 6WDWLVWLVFKH .HQQ]LIIHU .|USHUJHZLFKW -lKUOLFKH /HJHUDWH (LHU]DKO$XIJH]RJHQH.NHQSUR7UXWKHQQH

7DEOH

=DJRUMHWXUNH\ERG\PHDVXUHPHQWVLQDQG

%RG\(3) %UHDVW(6)

/HQJWKFP(4) :LGWKFP(5) %UHDVWERQH OHQJWKFP(7)

%UHDVWGHSWKFP (8) 6H[

(1)

6WDWLVWLFDO ,QGLFDWRU

(2

N 159 48 159 48 159 48 159 48

x 29.80 29.06 9.98 10.61 16.35 14.06 20.53 20.47

S 2.31 0.26 0.97 0.34 1.38 0.24 1.61 0.28

V 7.75 0.91 9.73 3.23 8.44 1.77 7.87 1.4

N 594 70 594 70 594 70 594 70

x 24.40 24.44 8.81 9.43 12.71 11.76 15.70 16.40

S 1.42 0.29 0.92 0.19 1.14 0.16 1.11 0.23

V 5.85 1.21 10.53 2.06 9.04 1.33 7.09 1.4

7DEHOOH.|USHUPDHGHU=DJRULDQHU7UXWKKQHUXQG

*HVFKOHFKW 6WDWLVWLVFKH .HQQ]LIIHU .|USHU /lQJH %UHLWH %UXVW

%UXVWEHLQOlQJH%UXVWWLHIH

(6)

&21&/86,216

The number of the current population of the Zagorje turkey reproduction flock is estimated at as few as 1500 birds, which is about 18 times fewer than in 1937.

The external features of the Zagorje turkey, body length and width, breast bone length and breast depth of the remaining population did not change even slightly in the period between 1937 and 1999.

5()(5(1&(6

Crawford, R.D., (1992). Introduction to Europe and Diffusion of Domesticated turkeys from the America. Archivos de Zootecnia, 41. 154. 307-314.

Kodinetz, G., (1940). Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Rasse und der Entwicklung des Zagorianer Truthuhnes (Meleagris gallopavo). Zeitschrift für Tierzüchtung und Züchtungsbiologie, 47. 2. 140-165.

Nixey, C.; Grey, T.C., (1989). Recent Advances in turkey Science, Poultry Science Symposium Number Twenty-one, 11-30. Butterworth & Co. Ltd. England.

Corresponding author ($GUHVVH):

6WMHSDQ0XåLF

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb 10000 Zagreb, Svetošimunska 25. Croatia )DNXOWlWIU/DQGZLUWVFKDIW8QLYHUVLWlW=DJUHE

=DJUHE6YHWRãLPXQVND.URDWLHQ Tel.: 385-1-239-37-77, Fax: 385-1-21-53-00 e-mail: ijuric@agr.hr